The Maryland Point System Explained: How to Keep Your Driving Record Clean

When you get your Maryland driver's license, you also receive a clean driving record. Keeping it that way is one of your most important responsibilities. To encourage safe driving and identify high-risk drivers, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) uses a demerit point system.

Understanding this system from the moment you get your license is crucial. Every time you are convicted of a moving violation, points are added to your record. If you accumulate too many points, you will face serious consequences, including mandatory driver improvement programs and the suspension of your license.

How the Maryland Point System Works

The concept is straightforward: the state assigns a point value to different moving violations. The more serious the offense, the more points you receive. When you pay a ticket or are found guilty in court, the MVA adds those points to your driving record. Points remain on your active record for two years (24 months) from the date of the conviction.

The MVA will take progressive action as you accumulate points.

Point Values for Common Maryland Traffic Violations

It's essential to know which actions carry the most weight. Here are the point values for some of the most common violations in Maryland:

• 1 Point Violations:

  • Speeding (1-9 mph over the limit)
  • Failure to obey a traffic control device

• 2 Point Violations:

  • Speeding (10-19 mph over the limit)
  • Following too closely
  • Failure to stop for a school bus

• 3 Point Violations:

  • Failure to obey a stop sign or red light

• 5 Point Violations:

  • Speeding (30 mph or more over the limit)
  • Driving with a suspended license

• 6 Point Violations:

  • Reckless driving

• 8 Point Violations:

  • Driving while suspended, which results in a crash

• 12 Point Violations:

  • Fleeing from a police officer
  • Leaving the scene of an accident with injury
  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI): A conviction for DUI will also result in a 12-point assessment and an immediate, mandatory license revocation.

The Consequences of Accumulating Points

The MVA takes progressive action as you accumulate points.

• At 3 to 4 Points: The MVA will mail you a Warning Letter. This is your first official notice that you are accumulating points and are at risk of further action.

• At 5 to 7 Points: You will be required to enroll in and complete a Driver Improvement Program (DIP).

• At 8 to 11 Points: This is a critical threshold. Once you accumulate 8 points, the MVA will mail you a Notice of Suspension.

• At 12 or More Points: Your license will be revoked.

Stricter Rules for Provisional License Holders

The consequences for new, young drivers are much harsher.

• First Offense (5 points): A provisional license holder who accumulates 5 points must complete a DIP.
• Second Offense (8 points): A provisional license holder who accumulates 8 points will have their license suspended.

How to Keep Your Record Clean

1. Drive Safely: The most effective method is to avoid getting tickets in the first place by obeying all traffic laws.
2. Understand GDL Laws: For teens, violating your driving restrictions is a moving violation that will add points to your record.
3. Request a Hearing: If you receive a ticket, you have the right to go to court and plead "not guilty." If you are found not guilty, no points are assessed. You can also request "probation before judgment" (PBJ), which, if granted, will also avoid points on your license.

Your driving record is a direct reflection of your choices behind the wheel. By understanding the Maryland point system, you can make informed decisions that will keep your record clean and keep you safe on the road.